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What are your initial thoughts about the concept of Literacy with ICT (LwICT)?
The formal addressing of this issue is long overdue. Whether or not we want to admit it or not, at this level of involvement is still fixating on the "neatness' OR 'oh WOW' response to the technology still dominates. THIS IS TRUE OF THIS GROUP AS THEY DISCUSSED THE WORKSHOP over coffee. I NEARLY CHOSE NOT TO COME BECAUSE THE DIVISIONAL MEETING PRIOR TO THIS EVENT FOCUSSED ON THE "WOW' factor. perhaps they need their teaching attitudes updated -- but still ?????
What implementation barriers for LwICT do you foresee at Senior Years?
Budgeting; Staff Reluctance; Availability of support services; LACK OF VISION
What opportunities does LwICT present for Senior Years?
It presents us with the opportunity to increase the acquisition of the General Outcomes, in most subject areas, in a far broader way than text based resources do. HOWEVER, it carries with it, the real possibility, of resulting in learners with an even flatter affect than we now see. Also, with the current changes (suspected) in brain chemistry, we run the real risk of students without an internal dialogue
in either modality.
What professional learning is required initially to prepare Senior Years teachers to begin to use the LwICT continuum?
First, create the vision of what could be, without focusing on the technology itself since it is but a tool. Second, provide a staff learning opportunity that is not threatening to the staff.
What types of ICT are available to you in your school, but not in your classroom?
Smart Boards, Projectors, Software
What subjects and grades do you teach and how do you currently use ICT to enhance student learning?
ELAS; Geographic Issues, DIGITAL imaging; Still & Motion. Grades range from 6 to S4. The biggest success has come with the GEOGRAPHIC iSSUES WHERE THE TEXT BASE3D RESOURCE IS USED AS A STARTING POINT FOR WEB BASED individual research. Digital Imaging has resulted in the production of outstanding images that I am having difficulty sharing with a wider audience for the students.